Clarissa Ward Jumps to CBS News

First on TVNewser: ABC News foreign correspondent Clarissa Ward is jumping to CBS News. Ward will join CBS in December, where she will report from Kabul, Afghanistan for all of the CBS News platforms and shows, including the “CBS Evening News” and “60 Minutes.” Eventually she will be based out of CBS’ London bureau.

Ward had been based in Asia for ABC News, covering events such as the Japanese tsunami and Russian elections. She last appeared on ABC in July. Before joining ABC she was a correspondent for Fox News Channel where she covered the Middle East.

In a memo to staff this morning announcing the hire, CBS News president David Rhodes said that given the situation in the Middle East, the company would have two correspondents reporting from the region, adding that “we are keeping that commitment until we see a significant change on the ground.”

CBS has also announced that Charlie D’Agata will become a full-time correspondent for CBS, based out of London. D’Agata had been London correspondent for CBS Newspath, and before that was CBS Radio’s chief overseas correspondent.

First, Clarissa Ward is joining CBS News as a Foreign Correspondent. Clarissa will report from Kabul, Afghanistan, beginning December 1st. She will eventually be based in the London bureau.

As you know, Scott Pelley is in Afghanistan right now, marking ten years of the American military commitment there. Scott will have reports for the CBS Evening News and for 60 MINUTES. Scott and all of us in management feel the conflict in the region requires the attention of two full-time correspondents.

With Clarissa later this fall, with Mandy Clark and Willem Marx today, with Seth Doane and others in recent months, and with continued reporting by the 60 MINUTES team and in particular Lara Logan, we are keeping that commitment until we see a significant change on the ground.

Until recently, Clarissa was Asia Correspondent for ABC News, based in Beijing. Her varied experience includes stints covering the Japanese tsunami, Georgia war, Russian elections, and the North Korean situation. Earlier in her career, with Fox News, she covered Beirut, Baghdad, and Baqubah– and, for a time, the assignment desk.

Welcome to CBS, Clarissa.

Second, Charlie D’Agata has been promoted to a full-time Correspondent based in London, contributing to weekend news, the Early Show, and other broadcasts.

Many of you know Charlie from his work in Iraq for CBS News. Charlie has been on the road from London for Newspath in recent years; last week, you saw a lot of him on the Knox trial.

But we should also note that in his time working for CBS network radio Charlie won a total of five Murrow awards. We are glad to have Charlie contributing to the network on a full-time basis.

Congratulations, Charlie.

Jeff and I are absolutely dedicated to original reporting from around the globe, and with these and other announcements to come you’ll see a continued commitment to that goal.